Scrubbing mop



Jan. 10, 1961 w, H, R R 2,967,317

SCRUBBING MOP Filed Nov. 20, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 uii 'jfln 35INVENTOR.

w. H. RICHARDS lg g 9 W,@-.

A TTORNE Y Jan. 10, 1961 w. H.IRICHARDS 2,967,317

SCRUBBING MOP Filed Nov. 20, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4

INVENTOR. W. H. RICHARDS ATTORNEY Jan. 10, 1961 w. H. RICHARDS 2,967,317

SCRUBBING MOP Filed Nov. 20, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. FIG. I3 w.H. RICHARDS ATTORNEY SCRUBBING MOP William H. Richards, 1610 W. 14thSt., Rehoboth Beach, Del.

Filed Nov. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 854,415

Claims. (Cl. -119) This invention relates to a scrubbing mop, and more Iparticularly is an improvement upon the structure disclosed in priorUnited States Patent 2,757,398 to Richards et al.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved mop of the typeemploying cellulosic sponge scrubbing element and embodying a pair ofhinged head plate sections and novel means to shift or swing saidsections to positions for compressing the scrubbing element andsqueezing Water from the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a mop of theabove-mentioned character improved means for shifting the head platesections together for expelling water from the mop, without subjectingthe head plate sections to extreme bending or twisting stresses, likelyto damage the same.

Another object is to provide mop squeezing means which is very smooth inoperation and easy to operate with minimum physical effort and highlyefficient for expelling the water from the cellulosic sponge scrubbingelement.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and simplified meansfor readily detachably securing the cellulosic sponge scrubbing elementto the head plate sections of the mop, so that the scrubbing element maybe quickly removed for cleaning and/or replacement on the head platesections whenever desired.

A further object is to provide a mop of the abovementioned characterembodying an extremely sturdy built-in scraper for removing chewing gumor other stubborn foreign matter from floors or the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved means foradjusting the mop handle angularly with respect to the head platesections and scraper.

Further and more general objects of the invention are to provide a mopof the above-mentioned character which is simplified in constructionthroughout, extremely rugged and durable, inexpensive to manufacture,highly convenient to use for a variety of purposes and very eflicientinoperation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mop embodying the invention, withpart of the handle broken away,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the mop shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the mop with the spongecleaning element removed, parts broken away,

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of: Figure 4 andshowing the sponge cleaning element partly assembled to the hinged headplate sections,

nited States Patent "ice Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse verticalsection taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of a handle adapter and scraperelement and a coacting bracket to which the head plate section arehingedly secured,

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on line 88 of Figure 2 but with themop squeezing means arranged in an intermediate operative positionrelative to the handle and head plate sections,

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the mop in a partly folded positionunder the influence of the mop squeezing means,

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the mop as illustrated in Figure 9,partly in section,

Figure 11 is a further side elevation of the mop in the completelyfolded position for expelling all water from the sponge scrubbingelement,

Figure 12 is a front elevation of the mop as illustrated in Figure 11,

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the mop showing the parts adjusted topermit utilization of the built-in scraper,

Figure 14 is a plan view of a cellulosic sponge scrubbing element andbacking plate sections having attaching elements.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 20 designatesgenerally a support member or adapter to which the mop handle andsqueezing means are directly connected, along with the bracket meanscarrying the hinged head plate sections to be described. The supportmember 20 is preferably formed from a unitary section of relativelyheavy gage sheet metal and is preferably quite rigid. It comprises aninverted U- shaped body portion 21, including depending spaced parallelflanges 22, as shown. Rearwardly of the body portion 21, the supportmember 20 further embodies a transversely elongated plate extension 23,adapted to serve as a scraper as will be further described. The plateelement 23 extends for equal distances beyond opposite sides of the bodyportion 21 and has integrally secured thereto a pair of side dependingflanges 24, which are spaced laterally outwardly of the flanges 22 nearthe rear portions of the latter. The lower edges of the flanges 22 and24 preferably lie in the same horizontal plane, as shown.

The forward end of the member 20 is provided with an integral extension25, having a pair of upstanding spaced apertured lugs 26, for a purposeto be described.

Underlying the inverted U-shaped body portion 21 in assembly is a headplate adapter bracket 27, embodying a longitudinally elongated plate 28,having a pair of in tegral downturned ends 29, provided therethroughwith laterally spaced aligned openings 30 for a purpose to be described.The adapter bracket 27 extends longitudinally of the body portion 21 andis rigidly secured to the lower surface of the top wall of such bodyportion by rivet or bolt means 31, engageable through registeringopenings 32 and 33 of the adapter bracket 27 and member 20 respectively.

The mop further embodies a pair of separate generally rectangular headplate sections 34 and 35, formed at their inner ends to provide pairs ofspaced integral hinge knuckles 36 and short upper plate extensions 37which overlie and contact the top faces of the head plates near theirinner ends.

A pair of longitudinally extending bolts 38 or the like engage throughthe hinge knuckles 36 and through'the openings 30 of adapter bracket 27for hingedly securing I head plate sections 34 and 35 are providedcentrally with keyhole shaped openings 40, including, enlarged circularportions 41 which are arranged innermost, and relatively narrowelongated slot portions 42 which are arranged outermost. The keyholeshaped openings 4% are in alignment, transversely of the mop, and theyare arranged at the transverse centers of the head plate sections 34 and35, as clearly shown in Figure 4.

The head plate sections 34 and 35 are further provided with raisedopposed generally U-shaped cam tracks 43, which taper upwardly graduallyfrom points 44 adjacent the plate portions 37 to points 45 of maximumheight, near and inwardly of the outer ends of the head plate sections.The cam tracks 4.3 surround the openings 40 symmetrically as clearlyshown in the drawings. Each cam track 43 has an upwardly struck stopelement 46 in its outer curved portion for a purpose to be fullydescribed.

A. pair of torsional coil springs 47 surround the bolt means 38 betweenthe pairs of knuckles 36, Figure 4, and these springs have ends 48 and49 which engage respectively the bottom surface of the bracket 27 andthe bottom surfaces of the head plate sections 34 and 35. These springsserve to normally maintain the head plate sections 34 and 35 in theirextended or fully separated positions shown, for example, in Figure 1.In such positions, the plate portions 37 of the head plate sections abutthe lower edges of the flanges 24, which flanges then serve as stops topositively limit the upward swinging movement of the head plate sectionsand to maintain them in the same plane, as shown in the drawings.

The mop further comprises a readily detachable and/ or replaceablecellulosic sponge scrubbing element or pad 50 of rectangularconfiguration and formed in the desired thickness. The sponge element 50has a pair of flat rectangular metal backing plate sections 51 cementedor otherwise firmly and permanently anchored to the top face thereof, inspaced relation. Short upstanding headed fastener elements or studs 52are rigidly secured to the backing plates 51 and project a slightdistance above the same, for ready engagement within the keyhole shapedopenings 40 of the head plate sections 34 and 35, as shown in thedrawings.

The sponge scrubbing element 50 is preferably somewhat wider than thehead plate sections 34 and 35 and also somewhat longer than the combinedlengths of the head plate sections when the latter are in their extendedpositions, Figure 1. By virtue of this arrangement, the dependingflanges 39 of the head plate sections automatically bite into or becomepartly embedded in the top of the sponge scrubbing element 50, when thelatter is secured thereto through the interengagement of the headedstuds 52 and keyhole shaped openings 49. This serves to anchor thesponge element more firmly to the head plate sections 34 and 35 andaffords a marginal cushion portion around all sides of the mop andoutwardly of the edges of the head plate sections, so that the latterwill not damage or scratch furniture legs and the like. The spongescrubbing element 50 is not cemented or in any manner permanentlysecured to the head plate sections 34 and 35, but rather is detachablysecured thereto solely by means of the headed studs 52 and the coactingopenings 44 When the sponge element 50 is assembled to the head platesections 34 and 35 as in Figure 1, the headed studs 52 are disposed atthe outer extremities of the slot portions 42. The central portion ofthe sponge element 50 is then preferably under some longitudinalcompression, so that the studs 52 will be resiliently held at the outerextremities of the slot portions 42 and will not tend to shift inwardlytoward the circular openings 41. When the sponge element 59 is damp, itis highly pliable or soft so that the studs 52 are readily separablefrom the head plate sections by shifting the same inwardly through theslot portions 42, until the heads of the studs register with thecircular openings 41, through which they may readily pass. The heads ofthe studs 52 are somewhat wider than the slot portions 42 but are alsonarrower than the circular openings 41, to facilitate rapid engagementand disengagement of the sponge scrubbing element with the head platesections.

The mop further embodies a handle 53 of any desired length, and providedat its lower end with an attaching yoke including diverging arms 54rigid therewith. The lower ends of the yoke arms 54 are formed toprovide circular knuckles 55, which receive a sturdy transverse bolt 56,and which. bolt also engages through aligned openings 57 and 58, formedthrough the flanges 22 and 24 respectively of the member 20. By thisconstruction, the handle 53 is pivotally secured to the supportingmember 20 for vertical swinging movement relative to the body portion ofthe mop, as should be obvious. The lower portions of the arms 54 andtheir knuckles 55 are disposed between the flanges 22 and 24, as bestshown in Figure 5.

To facilitate angularly adjusting the handle 53 with respect to themember 20 and head plates 34 and 35, the handle is provided near itslower end and in its forward side with a plurality of spaced adjustingnotches 59, adapted to selectively receive the upper end of a stiff wireadjusting brace or ball 60, substantially similar to the adjusting bail47 shown in Patent 2,757,398 to Richards et al. The adjusting bail 60 ofthe present invention has its lower transverse end 61 engaging pivotallythrough the apertures of the upstanding lugs 26. A torsional coil springmeans 62 surrounding the lower end 61 of the adjusting bail 60 serves tobias the bail toward engagement with the adjustable handle 53 and theslots 59 thereof. The bail 65 may have its upper end readily lifted by aslight finger action beneath the bail, so that the same may engagewithin any selected one of the notches 59. By this means, the handle 53may be adjusted angularly to any desired position with respect to thehead plates and sponge element 50; and, for example, the handle 53 maylie horizontally in substantially the plane of the member 20 or it mayextend above the member 20, substantially perpendicular thereto. Thefeature of adjustability of the handle 53 is substantially the same asthat of the handle 37 in the mentioned United States Patent 2,757,398 toRichards et a1.

Extractor or squeezer means for the mop is provided, and such meanscomprises a handle 63 formed of heavy wire or the like and having spaceddownwardly diverging stretches 64 and an upper clip 65, adapted tofrictionally embrace the handle 53 for maintaining the extractor handle63 secured thereto normally, as shown in Figure 1.

As most clearly shown in Figures 8, 9 and 11, the lower ends of thehandle stretches 64 are reversely bent so as to form short extensions66, forming obtuse angles with the stretches 64 and extending rearwardlythereof. Rounded shoulders 67 are formed at the junctures of theextensions 66 and stretches, as shown, and these shoulders 67 areadapted to bear against the tops of the plate portions 37 of head platesections 34 and 35 when the extractor handle 63 is swung away from thehandle 53 and toward its positions shown in Figures 8 through 11 forsqueezing the sponge element 50. The extremities of the short extensions66 are formed to provide circular knuckles 68, which pivotally receivethe bolt 56, just inwardly of the previously described knuckles 55, seeFigure 5. The arrangement is such that the extractor handle 63 is freelyswingable vertically upon the transverse bolt 56 between the inactiveposition of Figure 1' and the fully active or extracing position ofFigure 11.

Somewhat above the angular extensions 66, the stretches 64 have freelyjournaled thereon downwardly tapering conical extractor rolls 69, whichare suitably held against axial movement on the stretches or rods 64.The rolls 69 include at their tops short cylindrical sections 70,integral therewith.

When it is desired to squeeze the cellulosic sponge element 50 toextract the water therefrom, the extractor handle 63 is disengaged fromthe mop handle 53 and swung forwardly or downwardly in thecounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 8, 9 and 11. Until theextractor handle 63 reaches the initial active position shown in Figure8, no movement of the head plate sections 34 and 35 takes place, and thelatter remain in their fully extended positions shown in Figure 1. Whenthe short extensions 66 become parallel to the head plate sections,Figure 8, further clockwise movement of the extractor handle 63 causesthe rounded shoulders 67 to begin to bear against and slide over theplate portions 37 .of the head plate sections. The head plate sectionswill now begin to swing downwardly or toward each other, and it is to benoted that the shoulders 67 engage the head plate sections near theirinner ends and at the transverse centers thereof, rather than at or neareither longitudinal edge of the head plate sections. This arrangementrenders the extractor means much smoother in operation, and very littlephysical effort is required to operate the extractor means, due to thebooster effect afforded by the engagement of the shoulders 67 againstthe plate portions 37, at the start of the extraction operation.Additionally, because of the engagement of the shoulders 67 with thehead plate sections at the transverse centers thereof, there isabsolutely no tendency for the head plate sections to twist or bendunder the action of the extractor handle. This is an important featureof the invention which constitutes a distinct improvementover the priorart as exemplified by Patent 2,757,398 and other prior art patents.

With continued reference to Figures 8,9 and 11 of the drawings, when theextractor handle 63 reaches the position shown in Figure 9,substantially parallel to the planes of the now partly folded head platesections 34 and 35, the narrow ends of the conical rollers 69 arepositioned to begin their travel onto and along the U-shaped cam tracks43. The booster shoulders 67 have now completed their work of swingingthe head plate sections 34 and 35 to approximately the positionsillustrated in Figure 10. Continued movement of the extractor handle 63toward the fully active position shown in Figure 11 causes the conicalrolls 69 to traverse the gradually inclined cam tracks 43, and everwider portions of the conical rolls 69 pass over the cam tracks, untilfinally the cylindrical roll portions 70 engage the cam tracks justforwardly of the stop elements 46. Continued counterclockwise movementof the extractor handle 63 to its fully active position shown in Figure11 causes the rolls 69 to engage the stop elements 46, which positivelylimits the counter clockwise swinging movement of the extractor handle,as shown in Figure 11. When this condition is reached, the cylindricalroll portions 70 are now upon the highest parts of the cam tracks 43 andthe head plate sections 34 and 35 now assume their fully folded oropposed parallel positions as shown in Figure 12. In such positions, thesponge element 50 is tightly squeezed or compressedbetween the headplate sections of the mop and substantially all water is extracted fromthe same.

When the extractor handle 63 is returned to its inactive position ofFigure 1, the springs 47 automatically return the head plate sections 34and 35 to their normal fully extended positions of Figure l. Theextractor handle 63 is extremely easy to operate and smooth in itsaction for squeezing the water out of the sponge element 50. There is nopoint of abrupt or rough engagement between the extractor means and thehead plate sections likely to twist or damage the mop, and this has beenone of the biggest disadvantages of prior art mops along this generalline.

As best shown in Figures 8 and 13, the scraper element 23 projectssomewhat rearwarclly of the sponge element 50 and head plate sections 34and 35. When the mop handle 53 is adjusted to approximately the positionshown in Figure 13, wherein it extends generally perpendicular to themember 20, the scraper element 23 is positioned so that it may bereadily used to scrape chewing gum or 6 other foreign matter from afloor or the like. The scraper is extremely sturdy in construction andforms a permanent integral part of the mop, rather than a mereattachment thereto likely to become lost when separated from the mop.

The mop is entirely free of screw-threaded or like separable fastenerelements which require manipulation by hand during the use of the mop.As previously explained, the sponge cleaning element 50 is readilyseparable from the head plate sections 34 and 35 to facilitatethoroughly cleaning the same or replacement thereof by a new refill unitafter the sponge element is badly worn.

In the light of the foregoing description, it is believed that theconstruction and operation of the mop will be readily understood byanyone skilled in the. art, and it should now be obvious that my moppossesses a number of distinct advantages and improved features over theprior art mops of this general character.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

, Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a mop, a supporting element having a rear transverse edge adaptedto serve as a scraper, handle means piv otally secured to the supportingelement forwardly of said rear transverse edge, resilient meansconnected with the supporting element and with the handle means andmovable relative to the handle means to facilitate angular adjustment ofthe handle means with respect to the supporting element, a pair of headplate sections hingedly secured to the supporting means, resilient meansconnected with the head plate sections to maintain them normallyseparated, a compressible scrubbing element secured to the lower sidesof the head plate sections and foldable therebetween when the head platesections are swung together for extracting water from the scrubbingelement, 'an'extractor handle, means pivotally securing the extractorhandle to the supporting element rearwardly of the transverse centers ofthe head plate sections and forwardly of said rear transverse edge,booster shoulders on the extractor handle engageable with the tops ofthe head plate sections forwardly of said last-named means, and rollerscarried by the extractor handle above said booster shoulders andengageable with the tops of the head plate sections subsequent to theengagement of the booster shoulders therewith.

2. In a mop according to claim 1, and cam tracks formed upon the tops ofthe head plate sections and being upwardly inclined outwardly upon thehead plate sections and engageable with said rollers, and stops upon thehead plate sections near their outer ends to limit the travel of therollers in one direction upon said cam tracks.

3. A mop comprising a supporting member, a pair of spaced parallel hingepins fixedly secured to said supporting member, a pair of head platesections having inner end portions bent backwardly upon the head platesections to form tubular hinge knuckles at the inner ends of the headplate sections and relatively short plate extensions which overlie theinner end portions of the head plate sections in contacting relationtherewith, said knuckles receiving said hinge pins pivotally, downturnedflanges on said support member engageable with said plate extensions topositively limit swinging movement of the head plate sections in onedirection, a transverse pivot pin carried by said support member abovethe head plate sections and overlying said plate extensions, a mophandle pivotally secured to said. transverse pivot pin, an extractorhandle including spaced stretches pivotally secured to said transversepivot pin above said plate extensions, said stretches of the extractorhandle bent near their lower ends and near the transverse pivot pin toform on said stretches curved elbow booster portions rockable upon saidplate extensions when the extractor handle is swung in one directionupon the transverse pivot pin, tapered extractor rollers mounted uponsaid stretches near and above said elbow booster portions, generallyU-shaped gradually inclined cam tracks upon the head plate sections andprojecting thereabove and having their inner ends disposed close to saidplate extensions and substantially flush therewith and engaged by saidtapered extractor rollers subsequent to the engagement of said boosterportions with said plate extensions when said extractor handle is swungin said one direction, and a compressible sponge scrubbing elementsecured to the bottom faces of said head plate sections.

4. A mop comprising a supporting member, handle means pivotally securedto said supporting member, a pair'of head plate sections hingedlysecured to the supporting member, each head plate section having akeyhole slot formed therethrough centrally and outwardly of saidsupporting member, each keyhole slot having a relatively wide entranceportion arranged innermost and a relatively narrow elongated portionarranged outermost on each head plate section, a compressible spongescrubbing element underlying the head plate sections and substantiallycoextensive therewith, backing plate sections secured to the top face ofsaid scrubbing element and slidably engaging the bottom faces of thehead plate sections, and upstanding headed studs rigid with said backplate sections of the scrubbing element and freely shiftably engagingWithin said keyhole slots and serving to fioatingly secure the spongescrubbing element to the head plate sections, said studs normallydisposed at the outer ends of the relatively narrow keyhole slotportions due to longitudinal expansion of the sponge scrubbing elementbut freely shiftable toward the relatively wide keyhole slot zontalscraper plate extension formed integral with the top wall of saidchannel-shaped portion and having a rear transverse scraper edge, sidedepending longitudinal flanges carried by said scraper plate portion andprojecting forwardly thereof and spaced outwardly of and parallel to thefirst-named depending flanges, the first and second-named dependingflanges having aligned transverse openings formed therethrough, atransverse pivot pin secured within said aligned openings of saidflanges, mop handle and extractor handle means pivotally secured to saidtransverse pivot pin between the first and secondnamed dependingflanges, a generally U-shaped adapter bracket secured to the bottom ofthe supporting member between the first-named depending flanges andhaving end Vertical portions disposed substantially at right angles tosaid depending flanges, said vertical portions having laterally spacedaligned openings, longitudinal hinge pins secured within said alignedopenings in said vertical portions of the adapter bracket and beingsubstantially parallel, mop head plate sections hingedly secured to saidhinge pins and underlying the first and second-named depending flangesand projecting outwardly of said flanges for substantial distances, anda compressible sponge scrubbing element underlying the head platesections and secured thereto and foldable between the head platesections when the latter are swung to extracting generally parallelpositions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,725,585 Vosbikian et a1 Dec. 6, 1955 2,730,743 Zottola Jan. 17, 19562,740,146 Vaughn Apr. 3, 1956 2,757,398 Richards et al Aug. 7, 19562,834,035 Vosbikian et al May 13, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 258,484Switzerland May 2, 1949 793,981 Great Britain Apr. 23, 1958

